Concern has been expressed this week over plans for a controversial new housing development of 47 homes in Highbridge.
Land to the north of Walrow in Walrow Road, Highbridge could be transformed into a mixture of new flats and houses if the scheme is approved.
The applicant, Flower & Hayes Ltd, is seeking full planning permisison to develop the 12,196 square metre site east of the railway line.
The proposed ‘market housing’ would incude three 2-bed houses, five 2-bed flats/maionsettes, 17 3-bed houses, and eight 4+ bed houses plus ‘social housing’ of six 2-bed flats/maionsettes, four 3-bed houses, and four 4+ bed houses. Parking spaces for 128 cars have also been included.
Several nearby residents have already expressed concern about the size of the scheme and traffic concerns in Walrow.
Susan Talbot is against the plans, explaining in a formal objection: “Absolutely ridiculous. Once again, planning is blinkered. 47 houses with 47+ cars entering an already busy, narrow road is an accident waiting to happen! We are still waiting for more schools and larger medical centres to cope with the overload we already have in Highbridge.”
Jennifer Burland adds: “Highbridge is being over-run with new dwellings such as this and I am very concerned that the traffic is bad already and will get worse, especially along Walrow Terrace.”
Emma O’Regan adds: “I highly object to this planning application. Traffic congestion will cause huge issues to an already over-used cut-through and weak bridge.” She believes that the proposed dwellings would be “out of keeping with the original Victorian terrace houses that it will over shadow.”
But Lewis Plume adds: “Highbridge needs to modernise and adapt. This area of Highbridge is particularly run down and could do with a modern development.”
Comments are being welcomed by Sedgemoor District Council’s planning team until September 14th. The Planning Application Number is 11/18/00071.
